PEDESTRIANS had to jump out of way of a banned driver being pursued by police through Tullibody.

Two people trying to cross the road were almost struck by a vehicle driven by Christopher Bruce in a police pursuit.

Bruce, 24, who had a previous conviction for dangerous driving during a police chase in Prestonpans, has now been jailed.

He appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court, last Thursday, April 8, via video-link from prison.

He admitted that on March 12 on the A907 Alloa Road and Park Terrace, Tullibody, he drove a car dangerously by failing to stop when directed to by police in a marked vehicle, displaying blue lights and sounding its klaxons.

He drove at speeds in excess of the limits, overtook other road users and drove on the opposing carriageway.

At Park Terrace, he drove at speeds at not less than 60mph in a 20mph speed limit, overtook other road users and caused pedestrians crossing the road to run clear to avoid being struck.

He also admitted that on various roads in Stirling, Tullibody and elsewhere, he drove when disqualified.

Depute fiscal Rachel Wallace said that at 10.40am officers in a police vehicle saw a car being driven by Bruce.

They activated their blue lights and performed a U-turn before pursuing Bruce, who responded by accelerating and overtaking traffic.

He was initially hitting speeds of around 80mph and then in Park Terrace he was travelling at around 60mph in a 20mph zone.

Two pedestrians crossing the road had to run back on the pavement to avoid being struck.

The police abandoned the pursuit but Bruce was later traced and arrested.

Defence solicitor Larissa Milligan said her client had been banned in 2018 and although his disqualification period had expired, he could not drive until he passed the extended the test.

He had "misunderstood" that he was still disqualified, she added.

The solicitor conceded: "It has to be said it was absolutely terrible driving. When signalled to stop he panicked."

However, she said her client wanted out of jail, adding: "He's isolated and doesn't feel he should be there."

Bruce, of Newmills, Tullibody, had breached his community payback order imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for his earlier dangerous driving conviction, an offence which took place in East Lothian in 2016. This meant he had to sentenced again in that case.

On May 16, 2016, he drove dangerously at excessive speeds, repeatedly failed to comply with road marking and red traffic lights, caused other vehicles to take evasive actions to avoid a collision in the Prestonpans area.

Sheriff Craig Harris told Bruce: "This was an appalling course of driving."

He jailed him for a total of 180 days and banned him from driving for four years and until he passes the extended test.